STEAMfest

It was full “steam ahead” when Hub88 hosted its inaugural STEAMfest at Nokia’s campus in Naperville.

The all-day event featured dozens of female leaders in STEAM, as this year’s fest put the focus on women.

“Women innovators, women who are interested in STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts, and math and manufacturing careers. And providing them with a day of training, exposure to endless career possibilities, and just as a place where women interested in these fields can meet likeminded women and learn and be inspired and be mentored,” explained Martha Carney who is on the board of directors for Hub88.

Attendees could listen in on multiple workshops and panels, and had opportunities to network with exhibitors and entrepreneurs.

Some of those included local high schoolers excited to explore their potential careers.

“We just came back from where they were doing FEA simulations and it’s just amazing they’re high school students and they’re working for like-companies already, so that’s crazy,” said Batavia High School Senior Hannah Thiel, whose robotics team participated in the event.

STEAMfest was inspired by Hub88’s STEAMahead program, which regularly helps connect, educate, and expose women in the community to STEAM industries.